Indore sees 13,000 new cancer cases every year

INDORE: Nearly 40 per cent of the cancer cases can be prevented and one-third can be cured through early diagnosis and treatment. Other than smoking and chewing tobacco, doctors say lifestyle woes including unhealthy diet, overweight and physical inactivity is becoming a major cause of cancer.

According to doctors, more than 90,000 new cancer patients are detected in Madhya Pradesh every year (13,000 in Indore) of which 40 per cent remain untreated after initial diagnosis. "A rough estimate suggests that only one cancer specialist is available for 2,000 cancer patients in the state. There are around 3,000 cancer specialists in India, of which 50 are in Indore," said superintendent of government cancer hospital and oncologist Dr Fakhruddin.

As the country observes national cancer awareness day on Monday, doctors say that the situation should be given more importance. "Tobacco use alone accounts for 12 lakhs deaths every year. Reducing the rate of tobacco use will significantly decrease the global burden of 13 different types of cancers, including lung, oral cavity etc. Alcohol use has also been linked to cancers of the mouth, pharynx, larynx, oesophagus, liver and breast," Dr Dilip Kumar Acharya, chairman-IMA National Cancer & Tobacco Control Committee said.

He further said that if detected early, cancer can be treated at a much lower cost than diagnosed at an advanced stage. "Mortality rate can be lowered substantially if people report for check-up when the earliest symptoms are manifested. Unfortunately, nearly two-thirds of cancer cases are diagnosed at an advanced stage, reducing patients' chances of survival," said Dr Acharya while talking to TOI.

As a part of campaign to raise awareness about cancer, health experts across 30 states and 1,700 cities will hold rallies, lectures, seminars and distribute pamphlets to aware people about prevention and early detection of cancer.

In India, 10.1 lakh new cancer cases occurred in 2012 with 6.8 lakh deaths. While the projections for 2020 are 12.4 lakh new cases with 8.44 lakh deaths. We have 1.8 million people living with cancer (within 5 years of diagnosis).

On the other hand, state government is yet to form a concrete plan for cancer awareness and prevention. Lack of facilities to treat cancer in government hospitals has also increased woes of poor patients. Madhya Pradesh lacks proper cancer management and treatment facilities and the state has failed to utilize benefits of under National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP) launched in 1975.

State government had formed nodal officers for tobacco control programme. But, it is linked with tuberculosis programme only.

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